Table for automobiles



July 15, 1941.

,1. A. GEARHART EIAL TABLE FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Jan. 15, 1940 ATTOR NEY5 Patented July 15, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TABLE FORAUTOMOBILES Joseph A. Gearhart and Vlilliam M. Gearhart, Sr.,Brackenridge, Pa. i

Application January 15, 1940, Serial No. 313,994 Claims. (Cl. 31l21) Theinvention relates to a table for automobiles and more especially to adisappearing table for use in pleasure automobiles or in any enclosurewhere the space within is limited.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a table of thischaracter wherein the shelf constituting the table proper is swingablein a vertical direction and is supported when in a substantiallyhorizontal plane so that it may be used for service purposes or as awriting shelf, support or the like and when not in use is concealedwithin a space created by a housing or casing countersunk in the rear ofthe front seat of the motor vehicle.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a table of thischaracter wherein the same when folded lies flush with a supporting walland thus being out of the way to avoid constituting a barrier betweenthe front and rear seats thereof when entering or leaving a motorvehicle and also giving a neat finished appear-- ance without alteringthe normal appearance of the vehicle and particularly the seatsupporting said table.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a table of thischaracter wherein it can be readily released or swung to a servingposition and adjustably latched in the latter position, the table in itsentirety being of novel construction and unique in assembly.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a table ofthis character, which is simple in its construction, thoroughly reliableand efiicient inoperation, readily and easily ma' nipulated and whenfolded disappears from view, being strong, durable, and inexpensive tomanufacture and install.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in thefeatures of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as willbe hereinafter more fully described in detail, illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, which discloses the preferred and modified formsof embodiment of the invention and pointed out in the claims hereuntoappended.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure l is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the front seatback of a motor vehicle showing the table in an unfolded positionconstructed in accordance with the invention in association therewith.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1 looking inthe direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the table folded.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3 lookingin the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken on the line 5-5 ofFigure 1 looking in' the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6-45 ofFigure 4 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken on the line l'l ofFigure2 looking in the direction of the arrows. V

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional View showing a portion of thestructure in Figure 7 in side elevation.

Figure 9 is a side elevation partly broken away showing a slightmodification of the invention.

Figure 10 is an elevation thereof partly in section. a

Figure 11 is a detail sectional view taken on the line H-i| of Figure 9.V

Figure 12 is a fragmentary sectional View showing in detail one of thekeeper notches employed in the modified form of the invention shown inFigure 9.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views in the drawing. 7

Referring to the drawing in detail, particularly Figures 1 to 8,inclusive, of the group, A designates generally the table constitutingthe present invention while B denotes a portion of the front seat, thatis, the back thereof, for a motor vehicle, being of conventionalconstruction eX-, cepting that it has countersunk in the rearmost wallthereof at the proper locationa housing or casing l G preferably madefrom metal and dished to provide an open sided compartment for a purposepresently described. This housing or casing I Q is made fast in itscountersimk relation to the back B in any suitable manner.

Associated with a housing or casing I6 is a vertically swingable shelfconstituting a table top H, being flanged at I2 at its four sides andthose flanges at opposite ends of the said shelf or top 5 l are providedwith clearances for pivot screws l3 engaged in opposite ends of thehousing or casing in and in this manner the said shelf or top H isswingable vertically for the folding. or unfolding thereof. On foldingof the shelf or top II it constitutes a door or closure for'the.

compartment I 4 created therein and for a purpose presently described. I

Pivoted at IE to the outermost flanged edge of the shelf or top I lclose to opposite corners thereof are turnable hangers or double earbrackets Hi to which are pivoted at I! props or braces l8. The props orbraces [8 at the latching ends i9 thereof have therein spaced latchingnotches 20 selectively receiving a supporting rod 2! which is disposedcrosswise or transversely within the compartment I4 and made fast bynuts 22 in the ends of the housing or casing [0. These props I8 areswingable laterally and in a vertical direction so that they may befolded to the position as shown in Figure 4 of the drawing to beconfined or concealed within the compartment l4 when the shelf or top Hhas been folded, this position being exhibited in Figures 3 and 4 of thedrawing or such props l8 can be adjustably engaged with the rod 2| forsustaining the shelf or top H in an adjusted position when unfolded asexhibited in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing. Pinched or otherwise formedfrom the rod 2| are stop nibs or lugs 23 which prevent the inwardlateral swinging of the props I8 when engaged with said rod 2| and whileholding the shelf or top H in an unfolding serving position.

Attached to the inner face of the shelf or top I l are friction clips24, these being twin jawed and are separably engageable with the rod 2|for the latching of the shelf or top II when folded and in closingposition to the housing or casing It]. At the outer side of the shelf ortop H is a hand or finger knob 25 convenient for the unfolding orbringing of the said shelf or top to a serving position.

In Figures 9 to 12, inclusive, of the drawing there is shown amodification of the invention wherein the end flanges 26 of the top orshelf 21, which is similarly constructed to the said top or shelf I I,are provided with substantially L-shaped latching notches 28 and 29,respectively. The notches 28 are adapted for separable engagement with apivot or pintle rod 30 built transversely in the angle iron 3|, whichprotrudes from the rear wall of the seat back B, and is devoid of anuppermost longitudinal edge flange, the flange 32 is part of the angleiron 3|. The notches 29 are engageable with a supporting rod 33identical to the rod 2| and so mounted. In this manner the shelf or top21 can be conveniently latched in a folded or closing position and alsoit can be completely detached or separated from the housing or casing 3|in that the props I8 are separably connectable with the said rods 33.

The top or shelf II is not countersunk in the seat back B but protrudesslightly therefrom at the flanged sides and ends of the same, beingfastened in place in any suitable manner. These notches 28 and 29 whenemployed enable dispensing with the clips 24 hereinbefore described.

The props IS in association with the shelf or top 21 are convenientlyconcealed within the r angle iron 3| similarly to the concealment of theprops 8 in the housing or casing III.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction and manner ofoperation of the preferred and modified forms of the invention will beclearly understood and therefore a more extended explanation has beenomitted.

What is claimed is:

1. A table for a motor seat back comprising an open sided housing, atable top for closing the open side of said housing and swingable on ahorizontal axis, props having universal connection with a table top andswingable laterally and in a vertical direction, the props when swunglaterally being accommodated within the housing and concealed therein bythe top when closing the open side of said housing, means within thehousing and engaged by the props when the top is swung to a position foropening the housing and sustaining said top in a supporting position,and means associated with the top and engageable with the first-namedmeans to hold said top in a position for closing the housing.

2. A table for a motor seat back comprising an open sided housing, atable top for closing the open side of said housing and swingable on ahorizontal axis, props having universal connection with a table top andswingable laterally and in a vertical direction, the props when swunglaterally being accommodated within the housing and concealed therein bythe top when closing the open side of said housing, means within thehousing and engaged by the props when the top is swung to a position foropening the housing and sustaining said top in a supporting position,means associated with the top and engageable with the first-named meansto hold said top in a position for closing the housing, and means on thefirst-named means to prevent the prop from lateral displacement whenengaged therewith.

3. A table for a motor seat back comprising an open sided housing, atable top for closing the open side of said housing and removablyswinging on a horizontal axis, props having universal .connection with atable top and swingable laterally and in a vertical direction, the propswhen swung laterally being accommodated Within the housing and concealedtherein by the top when closing the open side of said housing, meanswithin the housing and engaged by the props when the top is swung to aposition for opening the housing and sustaining said top in a supportingposition, means associated with the top and engageable with thefirst-named means to hold said top in a position for closing thehousing, and means on the first-named means to prevent the prop fromlateral displacement when engaged therewith, the said props beingconstructed for selective adjustment when engaged with the first-namedmeans.

4. A table for a motor seat back comprising an open sided housing, atable top for closing the open side of said housing and swingable on ahorizontal axis, props having universal connection with a table top andswingable laterally and in a vertical direction, the props when swunglaterally being accommodated within the housing and concealed therein bythe top when closing the open side of said housing, means Within thehousing and engaged by the props when the top is swung to a position foropening the housing and sustaining said top in a supporting position,means. associated with the top and engageable with the first-named meansto hold said top in a position for closing the housing, means on thefirst-named means to prevent the prop from lateral displacement whenengaged therewith, the said props being constructed for selectiveadjustment when engaged with the first-named means, and bracketspivotally connected with the top and the said props for universalmovement of the latter.

5. A table for a motor seat back, comprising an open sided housing, atable top for closing the open side of said housing and swingable on ahorizontal axis, props having universal connection with the outer freeend of the top and adapted to swing in a vertical plane, a transverserod within the lower end ofthe housing and engaged by the props when thetop is swung upwardly, and spring means carried by the lower face of thetable top for locking the top in closed position by engagement with thesaid rod.

JOSEPH A. GEARI-IART. WILLIAM M. GEARHART, SR.

